10 - 1 Logo Article

This is the list! No.1 is just a few scrolls away, but please enjoy 10-2 first. This completes the Top 40 MLS crests (according to me) of all time as we continue this extended off-season. It’s been a tough wait and we all know the season would’ve started this past weekend, but we have six more weeks until we see some classic American soccer on April 17th!

I’m sure you’ll have more thoughts and concerns, so you can tweet at me @RileyJamesIAC to voice your comments.

10. Colorado Rapids 

2007 - 

Claret and blue. A classic English color combination adopted by the single place in the United States that couldn’t be more opposite than England.

Adopted from the green, blue, and gold colors of their early days, they moved on to this in 2007.

This is the highest a logo with a soccer ball has ever gotten on a list like this, but this is brilliant. The mountain imagery to play tribute to the Rockies is so awesome for me. Top 10 material.

9. San Jose Clash

1996 - 2000

I don’t know why I like this. I, truthfully, can tell not you it’s so high on my list, but it’s dope. Admittedly, the name is very bad, but the logo itself is killer.

Maybe it’s the nostalgia from the first ever MLS match when they played DC United on SJSU’s campus or the MLS 1.0 fashion trend of 2019, but I wish this would’ve lasted more than five seasons.

The yellow and red is not usually my jam, but I think the pastel yellow and not-so-harsh red is really well done. I’m not totally sure what the shape is supposed to be, but who cares?

8. Philadelphia Union

2010 -

CIRCULAR CREST

It’s pretty straightforward and has remained unchanged for the last 10 years. Blue and gold with a snake as a reminder to everyone that America beat England in 1776 and they shouldn’t tread on us.

The gold is really nice and sleek. The design is before its time and is paired nicely with the blue and black. However, I don’t love the harsh black. This is really, really good though with a great view of Chester, PA and Delaware River.

7. Charlotte Football Club

2022 - 

I’ll start with this first. The name sucks. It really sucks and they blew a golden opportunity and I will forever hold that against them.

With that being said… this crest is GREAT. The blue is absolutely gorgeous and is a stable of the Carolinas. The crown is really cool to highlight the “Queen” city, which admittedly is a better NWSL team, but funding is tough, and the Courage already exist, but “Minted 2022” is a wonderful nod to the Charlotte Mint coin, which are super rare and valuable.

6. Real Salt Lake

2010 -

The third highest soccer ball logo on the list.

The name of the club is so Euro-snob it hurts, but the crest is so classy. It’s not flashy, but neither is Salt Lake City… or Utah. Only having to share the stage with the Jazz in the city, the team has a great community feel that wears this logo proudly.

The branding has undergone a face lift since the debut dropping the “Real Salt Lake” in favor of the RSL as seen with the cursive and interlocking writing. It’s clean and easy to look at with it’s crown to signify their importance and the cobalt blue with a hint of claret.

5. Columbus Crew SC

2015 -

The 2020 MLS Cup champions and holders of one of the best rebrands in MLS history. I almost put their old logo on the list, but it is just not good enough. 

This crest is so baller. The pattern combo in the middle of the design is so clean and beautifully done. The colors are so loud and bold with the pop and the bright yellow and deep black. You know, I love the “96” and the matching white font of ‘Columbus Crew SC’ is an eye catcher. I love this and I’d be okay with this being someone’s pick for No. 1.

There is not a negative. Congrats on saving the team.

4. New England Revolution

1996 - 

This is uniquely MLS in a way that forgives the lack of a name in the actual logo that I penalized Portland for. New England is obviously the birthplace of the US and have teams that named after a war, so it makes sense that it has team names “Patriots” and “Revolution.”

It’s very high due to originality and creativity. It’s brilliant in a very simple way. It honors the birth of the country and the birth of club soccer (the first American club was based In Boston). It’s gorgeous and stands alone from anything else around the world.

3. Kansas City Wiz

1996 - 1997

This great piece of MLS history was cut short due to a lawsuit over the name “Wiz” which was changed to Wizards from 1997 to 2011.

The dopest crest of OG Major League Soccer. The soccer ball is used as the dot in the ‘i’ and THAT IS HOW YOU USE A SOCCER BALL IN A LOGO! WHY HAS NO ONE ELSE DONE THIS!?

The rainbow trail behind the ball over the very 1990s font is peak MLS 1.0 and has inspired really great throwback uniforms that SKC wore a few years ago. It’s the best logo that never made it.

2. Inter Miami CF

2020 - 

AHHHHHH. Flamingoes. Pink. David Beckham. Circular crest. It’s all so beautiful. The MMXX (2020) is the BEST way to put the year of conception in a crest. The birds in the middle outlined with a badge in a circle. It just comes together really nice.

The worst off the field start to MLS life with a multi-year delay that resulted in a temporary stadium in a city miles and miles away from Miami, but that doesn’t matter now.

Miami is a city of flare and excitement and that is exactly what this logo brings. Another banger from Becks.

1.Minnesota United FC

2017 - 

Number 1. Keeping MLS real since 2017, as their Twitter bio says. 

In my opinion, this is one of the best logos in American sports… not just MLS. Of all the soccer logos around the world, I’d nominate this one for the one of the best across the globe.

The grey snowy skies of Minnesota is a beautiful touch for this crest which is highlighted by the light blue in the middle. The ever so rare black loon with the pop of red in his eye is the best part of this logo.

The star above is usually a representative for a team’s MLS Cup, but in this case, it’s an ode to the history of Minnesota soccer. Beginning in the 1970s, the team bounced around from league to league being sold from owner to owner. The club was not wanted by anyone but was bought in 2010 and rebranded to Minnesota United FC in 2013.

I know most of you think this is wrong and I’m dumb, but that’s fine. Make your own list.

Honorable Mention: Major League Soccer

2015 - 

The sleek rebrand that is quite simply the best league logo in all of American sports. The shield is a much better the boot and soccer ball, as this logo allows teams to have the shield in their own colors, which is worn on the kits and used for different branding opportunities for the club.